Banjo construction.



E. A. STATHOPOULO.

BANJO CONSTRUCTION APPLICATION mm JULY 11. I916.

Patented Nov. 27, 1917.

6 M v w 0 8 I W m 0, aw i m .0 I. W m 3 M W m w T m u m v u m 7 101.1Isl" m f w 7 m V BANJO CONSTRUCTION.

To all whom it may concern: 1 I

Be it known that I, EPAMINONDAS A. ST/rrHoPoULo, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented new and useful Improvements in BanjoConstructions; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to stringed instruments, more particularly to abanjo construction.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a banjowhich possesses sound qualities of a very high degree.

The second object of my invention is to provide a banjo having a toneamplifier or chamber mounted thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tone chamber oramplifier which is detachable from the banjo body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tone chamber oramplifier that may be applied to any conventional musical instrument ofthe banjo type.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a musical instrumentof the above mentioned character which consists of few parts, isinexpensive to manufacture and which may be placed on the market at acomparatively low cost.

With the above and other objects in view, which will become apparentfrom the following description, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, the invention consists of the general arrangement of parts andconstructions that will be hereinafter set forth. 1

In the drawing Figure 1 shows a top view of a musical instrumentconstructed in accordance with my invention having part of the drumthereof broken away, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in both the views.Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates the shell of body ofthe banjo, which is constructed from a plurality of annular strips 6.For the purpose of ornamentation a semi-cylindrical beading 7 is securedto the lower longitudinal edges of the strips. Extending vertically ofthe body 5 are a plurality of openings or cavities 8.

The numeral 9 designates the tone chamher or amplifier in general whichconsists Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 27, 1917, i 3Application filed July 11, 1916. Seria1-No. 108;730.

of an inner ring 10 havingalined openings 11 therein. The lower edges ofthis rim 1O lies against the inner face ofthe body shell 5. Extendingoutwardly from the rim 10 adjacent the lower edge thereof is ahorizontal web or flange 12 which lies against the upper edge of thebody shell 5 and has connected thereto an outer rim 13, the lower edgeof which extends below the lower edge of the rim 10 and engages theouter face of the body shell 5 and the upper edge of which extendsbelow-the upper edge of the inner rim 10. Formed in the web 12 is aplurality of openings 12 which register with the cavities 8.

Stretched across the body shell 5 at the upper edge of the inner rim 10and the outer rim 13 is a head '14, the edge of which extends around theouter rim 13 and is held in this position by a clamping band 15. Theusual ring is secured to the extremities of the head.

Supported on the outer face of the body shell 5 are angular brackets 16which are held in place by means of bolts 17 that extend through thebody shell 5. Supported in the bracket 16 are adjustable hooks 18 whichengage the upper edge of the clamping band 15, whereby to regulate thetension of the head 14.

The numeral 19 designates the neck of the banjo, which is connected tothe body shell 5 in any desirable manner, while 20 indicates the banjostrings, which are extended over the usual bridge 21 and connected withthe usual tail-piece 22.

From the foregoing specification it will be obvious that the soundissuing from the banjo will pass through the openings 11 and between theinner rim 10 and the outer rim 13 and travel therearound and into thecavities 8, which will greatly amplify the musical sounds or vibrations.

While I have disclosed one form of the invention it is to be understoodthat this disclosure is illustrative only and that the invention may bemodified in many diiferent ways that may fall within the limits of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A musical instrument comprising a frame having a plurality ofresonating cavities therein, spaced rims mounted upon one edge of theframe and defining a sound amplifying channel therebetween, a webconnecting the rims having openings therein,

the openings being in communication with prising upper and lowerchannels mounted the resonating cavities, the inner rim being upon oneedge of the frame, the upper chan- 1; also provided with openings, and avibranel of the annular member being in comtory head stretched acrossthe frame and munication with said cavities, and a head covering thechannel. stretched across the annular member, and

2. A musical instrument comprising an covering the upper channeltherein. integral frame, cylindrical resonating cavities in said frame,an annular member corn- EPAMINONDAS A. STATHOPOULO.

Copies-0t this'patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patent.

Washington, D. 0. c

